Grounded in the legal context current in September 2026
If anything is no longer up to date, please let us know!
Your PhD candidates’ ID must be validated once a year at the Public Documents Section Office, located under the A0–A1 connector (entrance from the parking lot side). From the 2026/2027 academic year, the doctoral student ID card is valid until 30 October.
👉 View location on the map: click here
For the latest updates on ID validation, visit:
🔗 sdp.agh.edu.pl/legitymacje
PhD candidates can purchase an AGH entry card in accordance with the current regulations and price list found at https://www.agh.edu.pl/o-agh/dokumenty/inne/system-kontroli-wjazdu-na-teren-agh
In order to purchase the card, one should fill out the form found on the above website. It is necessary to confirm the training at the AGH Doctoral School with the signature of the supervisor or the administration of the SD AGH. The completed form should be sent as a scan to the e-mail address: straz@agh.edu.pl
Entrance to Zone A for doctoral candidates is possible after obtaining permission from the Director of Organizational Affairs. People with disabilities may request entry to Zone A under the rules applicable to employees.
A doctoral scholarship granted under Article 209 of the Higher Education and Science Act is exempt from personal income tax under Article 21(1)(39) of the Personal Income Tax Act.
Therefore, doctoral students do not receive a PIT form from the university.
People who have the status of a doctoral candidate, and therefore also those who do not receive a scholarship, are subject to compulsory health insurance. The exceptions are doctoral students who have insurance from other sources, including those reported for insurance by a family member - Article 66 (1) (20) and (2) of the Act on health care services financed from public funds.
Health insurance coverage occurs at the written request of a doctoral student - it is NOT done ex officio.
It is especially important to remember this in the situation of loss of health insurance, e.g. due to termination of employment contract. It is then necessary to resubmit the application for health insurance coverage to the AGH DS office.
PhD candidates from outside the European Union who are studying in Poland and do not have entitlement to health insurance from another source may voluntarily obtain insurance. This process is carried out without the involvement of DS AGH.
For more details, please refer to the website: https://sd.agh.edu.pl/en/doctoral-students/doctoral-scholarships#c10285
Any changes in personal information and address should be reported to the administration of the AGH Doctoral School as soon as possible.
Applications for scholarships from the AGH’s own fund can be submitted four times a year, and for special publication activity once a year. Dates of upcoming committee meetings, along with current grading rules, can be found on the website: https://dss.agh.edu.pl/swiadczenia/stypendium-z-wlasnego-funduszu-na-stypendia
To keep up to date with everything that is happening in the doctoral community at our university, we strongly encourage you to follow our Facebook and Instagram
You can also find lots of information and news on the AGH Doctoral School website Doctoral students -- AGH UST
If you are looking for a verified website about doctoral student rights, we recommend this one from the National Representation of Doctoral Students Rzecznik Praw Doktoranta – Prawa Doktoranta.
The Law on Higher Education and Science and the Regulations of the AGH Doctoral School do not provide for exemption from classes in case of illness of a doctoral candidate.
Requirements for attendance at classes, rules for making up missed classes depend on the subject and are written in the Syllabus of the subject.
In the case of illness lasting more than a month documented by a sick leave, it is possible to change the Individual Education Plan, requiring the written consent of the School Director (§13 section 3 point 3 of the AGH Doctoral School Study Regulations).
In accordance with Article 202(1) of the PSWN (Prawo o Szkolnictwie Wyższym i Nauce/The Law on Higher Education and Science), the doctoral candidate, in consultation with his/her supervisor(s), develops an individual research plan (IRP) and submits it to the entity conducting the doctoral school within 12 months from the date of commencement of training.
The IRP must include:
AGH PhD candidates are required to submit an annual report on the results and progress of the work included in the Individual Research Plan.
The implementation of the IRP is a subject to evaluation in the middle of training - Article 202(2) of the PSWN (Prawo o Szkolnictwie Wyższym i Nauce/The Law on Higher Education and Science), therefore, in a friendly way, we recommend including tasks as feasible as possible until then, and those with higher risks to be foreseen later.
More info: Individual Research Plan -- AGH University Doctoral Schoo
Yes, in accordance with §16(3) of the AGH Doctoral School Study Regulations, doctoral candidates, in agreement with their supervisor(s), may submit an update of the Individual Research Plan each time they submit an annual report on the doctoral candidate's progress, or at the end of the period of suspension from the Doctoral School.
There is such a possibility in accordance with §9 of the AGH Doctoral School Study Regulations. However, please note that each such situation is different and is considered individually. In such situations, you should apply directly to the Doctoral School.
According to §4(1)(24) of the AGH Doctoral School Regulations, doctoral students are required to obtain the approval of the Director of the Doctoral School for internships lasting more than 21 days.
It is also worth noting that, pursuant to §4(1a) of the Education Programme, the Director of the Doctoral School may exempt a doctoral student from the obligation to participate in the doctoral seminar in a given year of study in connection with, among other things, completing an internship or professional placement.
Unfortunately, neither the The Law on Higher Education and Science nor the AGH Doctoral School Regulations provide for this option.
So, what can you do if you find yourself in a difficult health situation?
First of all, we recommend letting your supervisor(s) know about your situation. They may be able to help, for example by allowing you to complete part of your work remotely or by suggesting other solutions that could work for you.
Another option is to use the right to an 8-week break under Article 208(1) of the The Law on Higher Education and Science. It is worth remembering that, according to the AGH Doctoral School Regulations, this break should be taken during a period when there are no teaching activities planned in your Individual Education Plan. You do not need to report such a break to the AGH Doctoral School Secretariat — simply let your supervisor know.
The attendance requirements and the rules for making up missed work depend on the course and are described in the syllabus. If you are having trouble completing a course, we encourage you to contact the course instructor directly.
If your illness lasts more than one month and is documented with a medical certificate, you can change your Individual Education Plan with the written consent of the Director of the Doctoral School (§ 13(3)(3) of the AGH Doctoral School Regulations).
If your health situation has caused significant delays in your Individual Research Plan (IRP), you can also consider making changes to the plan in accordance with § 16(3) and (4) of the AGH Doctoral School Regulations.
“A doctoral student, in consultation with their supervisor or supervisors, may submit an update to the Individual Research Plan whenever they submit their annual report on their progress, or after the end of a period of suspended education at the Doctoral School.
In exceptional situations, the Director of the School may agree to an update of the Individual Research Plan at a different time than those specified in paragraph 3.”
Special needs related to a health condition, including disability, as well as unforeseen and justified personal circumstances that have affected the implementation of the Individual Research Plan, can also be grounds for the Director of the AGH Doctoral School to agree to extend the deadline for submitting the doctoral dissertation (§ 25 of the AGH Doctoral School Regulations).
If you are dealing with a particularly difficult situation, feel free to reach out to the Doctoral School Directorate.
YES. PhD candidates in a mental health crisis can benefit from ad hoc consultations with a psychologist. To do so, fill out the HELPI form on the website:
The first person we should turn to in a difficult or conflicting situation is the supervisor.
However, if this is not possible, or if for some reason we do not want to, we can seek help from the Faculty’s Councils of Doctoral Student or The PhD Candidates’ Council - for example, by writing an e-mail: ursd@agh.edu.pl, or by contacting a selected URSD member directly.
You may also find it helpful to contact the secretariat of the Doctoral School.
At the university, there is an AGH Equality Ombudsperson (https://rownosc.agh.edu.pl/o-nas/rzecznik-rownosci) as well as the AGH Student Rights Ombudsperson (https://rps.agh.edu.pl/), whom PhD candidates can also contact in difficult situations.
Currently, there are no student research clubs specifically dedicated to PhD students. However, PhD students at AGH have the right to join and establish doctoral organizations (for details, see the Regulations on the Activities of University Student Organizations, Doctoral Organizations, and University Associations at AGH University of Krakow originallyRegulamin działalności uczelnianych organizacji studenckich, organizacji doktorantów oraz stowarzyszeń uczelnianych w Akademii Górniczo-Hutniczej im. Stanisława Staszica w Krakowie).
We also encourage you to get involved in the activities of the AGH PhD Candidates’ Council, which actively represents the interests of doctoral students and organizes various initiatives and events.
Yes, AGH organizes numerous events and initiatives aimed at doctoral candidates. The AGH PhD Candidates’ Council (URSD) regularly conducts trainings, workshops and projects that support scientific and professional development, as well as foster the integration of the doctoral community.
Events such as the PBS Meeting or the Doctoral Sailing Weekend are excellent opportunities for both networking and presenting one's own research in a friendly atmosphere.
For more information on current projects and events, visit: https://doktoranci.agh.edu.pl/en/projects
We publish the latest news, announcements and updates from the AGH doctoral community on our website and social media - on Facebook and Instagram.
We encourage you to follow them regularly to keep up to date with the activities of the AGH PhD Candidates’ Council.
If you have an idea for an initiative or want to get involved in the activities of the doctoral student council, please apply!
Feel free to contact the AGH PhD Candidates’ Council (URSD) via email or social media - we will be happy to answer questions and help you get involved.
At our university, the mid-term evaluation consists of an assessment of the doctoral candidate's prepared self-report and an interview with the committee. Only the implementation of the individual research plan is evaluated, it is not an exam that tests our knowledge in a given topic.
Above all, it is important to remember to submit the Self-assessment report by the deadlinewith the signatures of the supervisor(s) Usually, the deadline for submission of the self-assessment report is at the end of June, but it will certainly be announced in advance, so it is worth keeping an eye on your email and communications from the Doctoral School
The interview with the committee usually takes place in September, and each committee may conduct it differently. A short presentation on the implementation of the IRP is often required, so it is worth asking someone who has already completed the mid-term evaluation whether a presentation is required by your particular committee, or contacting the chair of the committee directly.
Pursuant to Article 196(1) of the PSWN, an employee who is not an academic teacher or researcher is entitled, at his/her request, to a leave of absence for the preparation of his/her doctoral dissertation or preparation for his/her defense of 28 days, as well as time off from workfor the defense of the doctoral dissertation. The employee is then entitled to salary for the leave.
An annual leave entitlement of 28 days applies to an employee throughout the entire period of their education at the doctoral school and applies to employees employed on a full-time basis.
The period of such leave may be divided, and the employer cannot refuse it, although the date for taking the leave must be agreed with the employer.
If your employment contract ends, be aware that your health insurance will lapse. In such a situation, you must apply to the Doctoral School to renew your insurance.
Lack of continuity in your insurance can have serious consequences, so it's a good idea to take care of this well in advance.
Yes, according to Article 204(3) of the PSWiN (Prawo o Szkolnictwie Wyższym i Nauce/The Law on Higher Education and Science), "Training, at the request of a doctoral candidate, shall be suspended for a period corresponding to the duration of maternity leave, leave on maternity leave conditions, paternity leave and parental leave, as defined in the Act of June 26, 1974. - Labor Code."
Suspension is carried out on the application of the doctoral student, which is available on the SD AGH website:
https://sd.agh.edu.pl/doktoranci/realizacja-przedmiotu-poza-sd-agh
No more than 6 weeks of maternity leave may be used before the expected due date, and unfortunately it is not possible to suspend education due to incapacity for work (e.g., during pregnancy).
! It is also very important that at AGH, it is necessary to submit a statement to resume the suspended education within 14 days of the end of the suspension period (§26(4) of the AGH Doctoral School Study Regulations). Failure to submit the statement is equivalent to resignation from education.
Training at the doctoral school ends with the submission of a doctoral dissertation with a positive opinion from the supervisor(s) (Art. 204(1) PSWN (Prawo o Szkolnictwie Wyższym i Nauce/The Law on Higher Education and Science) within the deadline declared in the Individual Research Plan (or ealier). This deadline may be extended by no more than 2 years under the terms and conditions specified in §25 of the AGH Doctoral School Study Regulations.
Submitting the dissertation to the doctoral school does not automatically initiate the procedure for awarding the doctoral degree.
Unfortunately, immediately after submitting your doctoral dissertation, you will lose access to your AGH email account. Therefore, if you need to extend your access in order to stay in contact with, for example, your dissertation reviewers, we recommend that you or your supervisor submit a request to the AGH IT Solutions Center.